The Lebanon Valley Conservancy hosted a ribbon-cutting Thursday in Quittie Creek Nature Park, Annville, to celebrate a grant it received from the state Department of Environmental Protection to complete Phase 2 of the Quittapahilla Creek Stream Bank Restoration project.

The Conservancy, in alliance with the Quittapahilla Watershed Association, has received a $422,000 Growing Greener Grant from DEP for the project.

Phase 2 will begin this month and is expected to be finished by September.

Phase 1 has been completed, thanks to grants, totaling $524,126, awarded two years ago from the DEP and the Fish and Boat Commission. To date, nearly $1 million has been awarded for the restoration project. Including the work done in Phase I, a total of 3,472 feet of stream bank will be restored as a result of the project.

In addition to the $422,000 grant, the Conservancy and the QWA received a $26,250 Growing Greener Grant in April 25 from DEP to develop a Watershed Implementation Plan for the Quittapahilla Creek and subwatersheds.

Representatives from the Conservancy, QWA, Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce and public officials attended the event.

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David Lasky, third from left, board member of the Lebanon Valley Conservancy, cuts the ribbon for the start of Phase 2 of the Quittapahilla Stream Bank Restoration project Thursday, June, 23, 2016, at Quittie Creek Nature Park in Annville.(Photo: Jeremy Long, Lebanon Daily News)